Kek Lapis Sarawak – let’s help rebuild industry

KEK Lapis Sarawak is halal. Yes, it is safe for the consumption of Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

What happened to the industry this year is incredibly sad.

What’s important is that the industry has taken proactive steps to ensure their products are 100% halal and that their premises are certified halal by the religious authorities as well.

Let’s make it clear that the majority of Kek Lapis Sarawak manufacturers are actually Muslim. So of course they will ensure the cakes are halal!

Personally I have always been a fan of kek lapis. It is often served during festive seasons in the homes of my family members and my own as well.

It always fascinates me how they come up with the intricate and colourful designs.

The point is that this is a Sarawak product. As Sarawakians, let’s help to support this industry. Kek Lapis Sarawak has become part of the Sarawak experience.

Let’s put the ugly episode behind us and ensure that Kek Lapis Sarawak continues to be a must-have item when visitors come to the State.

Also with Christmas just over a month away, isn’t it time you ordered some Kek Lapis Sarawak for yourselves or your friends and family?

The Borneo Post’s report:

Naroden: S’wak Kek Lapis halal for Muslims

KUCHING: In light of the recent Golden Churn butter controversy, Sarawak Kek Lapis Entrepreneurs Association (PPKLS) has taken steps to assure its clients that the state’s iconic layered-cake, or Sarawak Kek Lapis, is safe for consumption.

Assistant Minister in Chief Minister’s Office (Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development) Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais said the moment the Johor Religious Department (JAJ) revealed that they had found swine DNA in the butter last March all affected PPKLS members immediately ceased using this butter.

“Since April, Sarawak Kek Lapis entrepreneurs no longer use Golden Churn butter, and have moved to other brands which have been certified halal.

“A few members who had used the tainted butter have already performed ‘samak’ (cleansing rituals) on their baking equipment and outlets.

“Hence, Muslims can be assured that layered-cakes available in the state are now completely free of Golden Churn Butter,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

Since the majority of Sarawak Kek Lapis customers are mostly from the peninsula, the association participated in Halal Fiesta Malaysia 2011 (Halfest) last month.

“This was not only to convince customers in the peninsula that the layered-cake products are halal, but the Halfest committee actually support and accept Sarawak Kek Lapis as halal.

Rabiah lamented that the butter issue had caused the business of layered-cake entrepreneurs in the state to fall through the floor.

“Ever since the issue was highlighted, sales have gone down; we have since suffered a drastic loss of between 50 and 70 per cent in sales.”

The Sarawak Kek Lapis, Rabiah said, usually experienced a demand surge, particularly before the festive season, but things had not been the same this year.

The layered-cake business raked in profits amounting to RM6.5 million last year.

To bring back its former glory, Naroden, who is also Assistant Minister of Resource Planning, advised layered-cake entrepreneurs to register with PPKLS — which currently has 37 registered members — to maintain its quality and allure.

On another matter, Naroden said PPKLS had obtained the geographical identification (GI) mark for its products.

“With this approved patent, the brand Sarawak Kek Lapis can only be used by members of the association.